Pumped for Pumpkins
BRIGHT, PLUMP pumpkins herald the height of fall and a legacy farming family details the counterintuitive factor of rain in growing these fun fruits, which are decorative and delicious. Plus, recipes for surprising, savory soups and scrumptious pies. (pg. 26)
photography by Richard Darbonne
Robby Rutledge stands amid the stalks of sweet corn on the land his family has farmed since before Washington statehood in 1889.
Bounty Hiker
Get your fill of Mount Rainier’s world-class fall scenery and local bounty to match
written by John Lane
MOUNT RAINIER RISES 14,010 feet in the Cascade Range of southwestern Washington. For some it is a symbol of a spiritual home and beneficence, for others it’s a challenge whose volcanic peak is taunting. For many others, she is a provider of a lifetime’s pursuit of beauty through her trails. Fall is perhaps the most striking of her seasons for those in search of recreation and beauty.
In this visit, we engage in an active schedule of day-hiking some of the best trails for witnessing fall colors while stopping only to snack and feast upon Washington bounty—a locavore experience in the wilderness. Keep in mind that you have to obtain park permits for your hikes in advance, too.
Day
REFLECTION • CHOCOLATE
This trip will take a moderate amount of food planning to achieve the best results. Backpacks are required to transport your bounty to farther and higher places along the trails. Today’s outing is a warm-up for tomorrow’s longer effort and includes a moderate, two-hour hike to Reflection Lakes accompanied by local beer, nuts, chocolate and stone fruit. Half of the fun of the first day is sourcing the food for the hike. Fill a Hydro Flask with your favorite Washington craft beer. (Take water, too.) If you’re in a beer rut as we sometimes are, try Elysian’s Avatar IPA with a 6.3 percent alcohol by volume or ABV, or, if hiking on a clear night to see the cosmos mirrored in Reflection Lake, try Elysian’s boozier 8.2 percent Space Dust IPA and let the creativity flow. The Local Logger Lager from Everybody’s Brewing in White Salmon makes for an easy-sipper with a smooth 4.2 percent ABV craft beer.
Also in your pack, you should have locally grown macadamia nuts with rosemary from OriginNuts from Vancouver. You can order them ahead of time from its website at www.originnuts.com. Grab some of the bounty cliches of Washington produce, such as cherries, which will be on the far end of the season, or apples, which are now in season. Finally, your pack should include some of the finest Washington chocolates for a sweet finish. Smoked salted caramels from Fran’s Chocolates in Seattle or combine Washington cherries and chocolate with Chukar Cherries, from Prosser. Now you’re in a good place with your nutrition.
Mark Downey/Washington Tourism Alliance
Mount Rainier, first called Talol, Tacoma or Tahoma by the local Salishan-speaking people, offers premier hiking for fall colors.
